Kolkata:
West Bengal’s capital Kolkata is set to earn laurels again for having India’s first transgender college principal Manabi Bandopadhyay, who will take charge of Krishnanagar Women’s college next month.
Since ages in India, transsexuals are symbols of shame and derision and invigorate several bad memories.
While speaking to media, Manabi said, “Of course I am excited, but the media attention has left me in a tizzy. I understand that my achievement is a big step forward for the transgender movement in the country, but my priority is my students.”
Known as Somnath before her sex-change operation, her story leaves many eyes teary.
The youngest son in a middle-class family in Naihati (North 24 Parganas district), she underwent a sex-change operation in 2003.
After the operation, she faced a lot of criticism at her work place.
According to her, “People were worried about which washroom I should be allowed to use”.
The lady is still waiting for a release letter from her current college, Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalaya in Paschim Medinipur.
